Little Plates, Big Tapas premieres this Friday

Building on the success of last year’s Fringe show, HOW TO SOLVE A BEAR, The GROUNDSWELL PLAYERS – (aka LEO CALLAHAN) are mounting a new production this weekend in cooperation with the PHILADELPHIA JOKE INITIATIVE entitled LITTLE PLATES, BIG TAPAS. Billed as a ‘darkly comic offering’ – the show is a scripted play, workshopped from improvisation, and then subsequently fine-tuned under the direction of DAN PLEHAL.

L to R: Scott Sheppard, Jack Meaney

 

Set in a pasta joint, newly handed down to a culinary trained son – the show explores the comedic clash between big city dreams and small town realities as he attempts to turn the little establishment into a high profile tapas eatery.

SCOTT SHEPPARD, JESSE PAULSEN, JACK MEANEY and ALISON KING brought their previous experiences from How To Solve a Bear into the production, this time joined by long time Leo Callahan collaborators NICHOLAS MIRRA and NICK KERR. Kerr’s character even sets the mood with some piano playing.

While improvisation is a tool utilized by many writers during the development process, for theatrical newcomers like Mirra, the experience of honing and performing that material is something very different indeed. “I came to (the show) with the perspective of an improviser and writer, not an actor… it’s been an exhilarating and challenging process.”

For Mirra, the work has evolved from something familiar yet fleeting, to a body of work with real sustainability. “We tend to appreciate and then forget, because it’s improv and inherently transient… trying to capture, define and repeat is not something I’m accustomed to worrying about.” And it’s in that repeated execution that the reward becomes evident. “Everything we do on stage is imbued with intention and forethought.”

And just what can we expect from this little labor of love? I think Mirra sums it up best… “(the show) is a small-town comedy located at the intersection of food, family, love, loss, ambition, and Himalayan fungi.”

Little Plates, Big Tapas runs just four nights, Feb. 11-14 at the LATVIAN SOCIETY (541 N 7th St). But if you’re looking to catch a glimpse of this limited engagement, you’d best move quickly. Friday and Saturday shows are already sold out. Tickets are available at the Philadelphia Joke Initiative’s website.

Rookie Card and Leo Callahan at Raven Lounge

ROOKIE CARD hosts its monthly comedy show at the Raven Lounge tonight. Between this and its Center City Comedy events, the venue is making a name for itself in the local scene as a place to catch some excellent indie comedy.

Tonight the gang is joined by improv group LEO CALLAHAN, who a short while back hosted them at the Arts Parlor. It’s nice little tit-for-tat, and we all get to laugh in the process. Sounds like a pretty good deal all around.

ROOKIE CARD w/ LEO CALLAHAN
MONDAY, JULY 26TH @ 9PM
THE RAVEN LOUNGE, 1718 SANSOM ST
FREE ADMISSION

Comedy for the Weekend Warrior

Here are the comedy happenings this holiday weekend…

Friday, July 2nd

8:00PM – N Crowd | Actors Center | $10-$15
8:00PM – Deconstructing Steve + Leo Callahan | Shubin | $10
8:00PM – Aries Spears | Helium Comedy Club | $25-$30
9:30PM – King Friday + Friends | Shubin | $10
10:00PM – N Crowd | Actors Center | $10-$15
10:30PM – Aries Spears | Helium Comedy Club | $25-$30

Saturday, July 3rd

6:00PM – Storytelling Graduation Show | Shubin | $5
7:30PM – ComedySportz Philly | Playground @ Adrienne | $10
8:00PM – Kevin Allison Sketch Spectacular | Shubin | $10
8:00PM – Aries Spears | Helium Comedy Club | $25-$30
9:30PM – Kevin Allison Sketch Spectacular | Shubin | $10
10:00PM – ComedySportz Philly | Playground @ Adrienne | $10
10:30PM – Aries Spears | Helium Comedy Club | $25-$30

Lineup for PHIT at the Shubin

It’s time once again for the PHILLY IMPROV THEATER to take up residence at the Shubin Theatre. They’ve put together a lot of great programming to kick off July… including recurring favorites like the BULLY PULPIT, a new Cagematch challenger looking to take down THE ONES…, the very audience inclusive M@&, new Troika breakout DECONSTRUCTING STEVE, newcomers WALT!, the much anticipated KEVIN ALLISON SKETCH COMEDY SPECTACULAR and if memory serves, the first ever L1 CLASS SHOW. Here’s the breakdown:

Wed, June 30
8:00pm – The Bully Pulpit

Thu, July 1
8:00pm – M@& + Friends
9:30pm – Angry People Building Things + Friends

Fri, July 2
8:00pm – Deconstructing Steve + Leo Callahan
9:30pm – King Friday + Friends

Sat, July 3
6:00pm – Storytelling Grad Show
8:00pm – Kevin Allison’s Sketch Comedy Spectacular
9:30pm – Kevin Allison’s Sketch Comedy Spectacular

Mon, July 5
8:00pm – The Moops

Wed, July 7
8:00pm – Guilty Pleasures

Thu, July 8
8:00pm – Hey Everybody!
9:30pm – CAGEMATCH: Stranger, Danger vs. The Ones

Fri, July 9
8:00pm – CUBED + Rookie Card
9:30pm – Fletcher + Friends

Sat, July 10
8:00pm – Bare Hugs + WALT!
9:30pm – Epsilon Faction + Activity Book

Sun, July 11
6:00pm – Class Show: Emily Davis’ L1
8:00pm – WALT! + Bare Hugs

PHILLY IMPROV THEATER
JUNE 30 – JULY 11
SHUBIN THEATRE | 407 BAINBRIDGE ST
TICKETS: $5 – $10

Comedy for the Weekend Warrior

FRIDAY

• 8:00PM – Rodgers & Hammerstein Are Dead w/ The Musicians of Comedy | Latvian Society | $15-$20
• 8:00PM – The N Crowd bids farewell to The Buckleys | Actors Center | $10-$15
• 8:00PM – Catch improviser Rob Cutler in Gravedigger | Walking Fish | $12-$18
• 8:15PM – Whipsuit | O’Neals Irish Pub | $5
• 9:00PM – Leo Callahan w/ Dunk (NYC) | Arts Parlor | $5
• 9:00PM – Catch improviser Jessica Snow in Memorial Day | Avant Gentlemen’s Lodge | FREE

SATURDAY

• 7:30PM – ComedySportz Philadelphia | Playground at the Adrienne | $15
• 8:00PM – Rodgers & Hammerstein Are Dead w/ The Imposters (NYC) | Latvian Society | $15-$20
• 8:00PM – Catch improviser Rob Cutler in Gravedigger | Walking Fish | $12-$18
• 8:00PM – Standup from comedian Bobcat Goldthwait | Helium | $25-$30
• 9:00PM – Catch improviser Jessica Snow in Memorial Day | Cycle Studios | FREE
• 10:00PM – ComedySportz Philadelphia | Playground at the Adrienne | $15
• 10:30PM – Standup from comedian Bobcat Goldthwait | Helium | $25-$30

SUNDAY

• 7:00PM – Rodgers & Hammerstein Are Dead w/ The Imposters (NYC) | Latvian Society | $12-$15
• 7:00PM – Improv Incubator | Community Education Center | DONATIONS ACCEPTED

NYC Dunk and Leo Callahan this Friday

Local improv group LEO CALLAHAN will play host to DUNK of NYC’s Magnet Theater this Friday in a special show at The Arts Parlor.

In addition to John Dixon (of the well-traveled Sax & Dixon and hip-hop duo Southern Mothers), Dunk boasts a fun group of comedians you might well know, incuding: Ian Caruth, Karsten Cross,  Lauren Olson, Garrett Palm, Justin Peters, Matt B. Weir and Taylor White.

With the comedic talent in each group’s rosters, it should prove to be a special opportunity to catch a great night of improv.

LEO CALLAHAN w/ NYC’s DUNK
FRIDAY, MAY 21ST @ 9PM
THE ARTS PARLOR | 1170 S BROAD ST
$5 | BYOB

PHIT at the Shubin with April-May shows

Tonight the PHILLY IMPROV THEATER launches another two week run at the Shubin, and they’ve got some fun stuff in store for you…

Wed, 4/28
8:00PM – The Bully Pulpit w. Luke Giordano – $5

Thu, 4/29
8:00PM – Improv Comedy, PhD – $10
9:30PM – Troika: Round 3 – $10
11:00PM – The Ones Your Moms Warned You About – FREE

Fri, 4/30
8:00PM – Dependable Felons + Everything Must Go – $10
9:30PM – The Megaphone Comedy Tour + King Friday – $10

Sat, 5/1
8:00PM – Sketch comedy from Meg & Rob feat. Brendan Kennedy – $10
9:30PM – Activity Book + Leo Callahan – $10
11:00PM – Sketch Up or Shut Up -FREE

Sun, 5/2
8:00PM – Sketch comedy from Meg & Rob feat. Carolyn Busa – $10

Mon, 5/3
8:00PM – The Moops – $5

Wed, 5/5
8:00PM – Guilty Pleasures w/ Brendan Kennedy – $5

Thu, 5/6
8:00PM – Hey Everybody w/ Aaron Hertzog – $5
9:30PM – Troika: Championship – $10

Fri, 5/7
8:00PM – Rare Buck Show w/ Dave Buckman + Vorlof – $10
9:30PM – Fletcher + Angry People Building Things – $10

Sat, 5/8
8:00PM – Sketch comedy from Meg & Rob – $10
9:30PM – CUBED + Red Letters – $10
11:00PM – Improv Jam: Flying Leap – FREE

Additional information and advanced tickets available on the PHIT website.

Friday: Leo Callahan with Rare Bird Show

Local rising improv group LEO CALLAHAN is all set to storm the Arts Parlor for their first show of 2010. The night will feature the debut of their newest member, JACK MEANEY, as well as a guest performance from the much exalted RARE BIRD SHOW.

For those of you not yet familiar with Leo Callahan, the group is a fairly recent addition to the scene that is rapidly growing in popularity… Featuring all Haverford Alums, three of whom were former members of Illegal Refill (RIP), these comedians are fast, smart and obviously a tight bunch. I’m excited to see what newcomer Jack brings to the stage and group dynamic.

L to R: Nick Kerr, Nicholas Mirra, Ali King, Scott Sheppard, and Jesse Paulsen. Not pictured: Jack Meaney

IMPROV W/ LEO CALLAHAN
FEAT. RARE BIRD SHOW
FRIDAY, JANUARY 15TH @ 9PM
THE ARTS PARLOR | 1170 S BROAD ST

PJIs Cecily and Gwendolyn run begins tonight

Over the past few months, the PHILADELPHIA JOKE INITIATIVE has presented a number of single night showcases, including the Mike Connor Travelogues and a fundraiser featuring music from the Hopper Brothers. Beginning tonight, this small production company launches its largest endeavor to date, and plans to do so with a little Victorian class.

CECILY & GWENDOLYN’S FANTASTICAL BALLOON RIDE opens tonight and runs through January 31st at the Latvian Society in Northern Liberties.

The show, featuring KELLY JENNINGS and KAREN GETZ in the eponymous roles of Cecily and Gwendolyn, is a fully improvised imagining of two slightly mad Victorian ladies who fancy themselves anthropologists. When all is said and done and chronometers have been synced, each evening explores the notion that these time traveling ladies find themselves 175 years through space and time via their hot air balloon in present day Philadelphia – where each night’s audience will serve as lab rats of sorts… from whom they’ll extract their conclusions about the “modern” society in which we live.

I was fortunate enough to attend a private performance this past weekend, and can honestly say that I’ve never been quite so excited to see how audiences will react to a show. Karen and Kelly (as pictured L to R above) have taken the idea of audience participation, and replaced it with complete audience immersion. The entire show is an evening that we’re all invited to take part in. Everything from the set to the seating, the costumes to the conversation, all welcome the audience member in, begging to be engaged, hoping to engross. Sitting there with only a handful of people, I’ve never felt so unconscious of my contribution. Getz and Jennings do a remarkable job of captivating with ease. Something that while I know from talking to them has taken years to develop, comes across as simple and organic.

As you can tell, I’m really excited about how it all drew me in and am excited to hear how audiences respond to this level of participatory immersion.

If you’re interested in reading  more about the show, more can be found in this recent writeup in the CityPaper. You can also get to know these ladies by watching their YouTube videos or by joining them on Facebook.

During its three week run (Thursdays through Sundays, excepting tonight’s opening) the show will play host to a myriad of comedy guests, including local talent the likes of Chip Chantry, Cubed, Rare Bird Show, BWP, Leo Callahan, the N Crowd, Real Housewives of Philadelphia and ComedySportz Improvised Shakespeare as well as Hello Laser from the Magnet Theater in NYC.

CECILY & GWENDOLYN’S FANTASTICAL BALLOON RIDE
THE LATVIAN SOCIETY | 531 N 7TH ST
JANUARY 13-31, 2010 | 7PM
PRESENTED BY PJI WITH SUPPORT FROM FREEFALL PRODUCTIONS

Comedy for the Weekend Warrior

There’s a lot going on this weekend for comedy fans… check it out:

- The 2009 PHILLY SKETCHFEST continues through the weekend at Plays & Players Theater

- RARE BIRD SHOW,  FLETCHER and LEO CALLAHAN anchor PHIT’s Shubin shows, with appearances by EVERYTHING MUST GO tonight and ANGRY PEOPLE BUILDING THINGS Saturday

- Celebrate the Bachelor Party Edition of the MINISTRY OF SECRET JOKES as host DOOGIE HORNER celebrates his final nights of singledom 8PM tonight at Fergies Pub.

- Bucks County Community College features EXPONENTIAL JOURNEY – improv directed by Bill McLaughlin this Friday and Saturday at 7PM in the BCCC Library

- Shortform improv by THE N CROWD rolls out 8PM tonight at the Actor’s Center

- Get your game on with a COMEDYSPORTZ double header Saturday 7:30 & 10PM at the Playground @ the Adrienne

- Scratch your standup itch with LOUIS RAMEY of NBC’s Last Comic Standing headling at Helium through Saturday.